NHS warned of ‘tough and unpopular decisions’
Date published: 08 October 2010
JOB cuts could be in the pipeline for staff at NHS Oldham as it gears up to avoid a potential £10million deficit.
Patients and staff have been warned tough and unpopular decisions lie ahead for the trust which runs health services in the borough.
The trust, which employs 1,350 people, has avoided making staff redundant so far.
But it admitted yesterday (7) that it could not rule out future job cuts.
The trust has already saved more than £7million pounds this financial year (Ap10-Mar11) through measures including reducing management costs by £750,000, freezing recruitment, reducing hospital follow-up appointments and limiting some NHS procedures.
Now it is planning to tighten its belt even further and save another £10.6 million by the end of March (2011).
Gail Richards, chief executive, said: “We’ve always done our very best to make sure we are getting the best value for money for local taxpayers, but we’re facing a very difficult situation and want people to understand the reality.
“We’re working up detailed plans as we speak to make sure we balance the book, but there may be tough and unpopular decisions ahead.”
NHS Oldham said it is facing a number of pressures including increased demand for services and rising prescribing costs.
Money saving measures are already clawing back cash, including £100,000 saved by renegotiating phone contracts, and other plans include using NHS buildings better and not duplicating meetings.
But savings have not happened quickly enough and the trust is facing increasing monthly bills beyond what it predicted and what it has the money for.
At yesterday’s (7) board meeting, Julie Daines, turnaround manager, said a trust-wide spending review will be carried out focusing on what is being spent and where.
A detailed action plan was being draw up detailing ways to tackle the potential shortfall.
She said: “We are looking at where the opportunities are and working with partners to make it as effective and efficient as possible.”
Stephen Sutcliffe, executive director of finance, said the trust had always had a strong financial past.
He said: “It is important to recognise that there are still risks with delivery.
“A total of 95 per cent of our spending is not completed by us but through our commissioners.
“This is not a straight forward or easy task to achieve.”
Riaz Ahmad, chairman, said: “I’m sure we will see off this challenge.
“We want to provide the best service for the people of this borough.”
